Three Weeks

Every Friday, we have a written test, an oral report, and then lunch with our professors and classmates.  Usually, by that point in the week, I am so exhausted I simply go back to the dorm and rest or read.  However, yesterday I was not allowed that option.  Although I was pretty tired and would have enjoyed the time to relax, I am really glad CET arranged for us to visit a local school instead.

We each prepared a slideshow about an American topic of our choosing.  For instance, mine was about applying to college in the United States, someone else in my group talked about New York City, and another person reported on American football.  Afterwards, we were allotted 30 minutes to break the language pledge and help students with pronunciation and other things they were working on in their English language courses.  Students also performed a skit featuring words and grammar structures they had recently studied in English language class.

Next, we talked with them about their experiences as high school students in China.  They spoke a lot about preparing for the national exam, 高考 gaokao, which determines not only which college in China the student will attend, but also his or her academic major and future career.  Students also talked about their hometowns*, activities they enjoyed outside of school, and how they imagined the United States to be.  Finally, people played charades, 毽子 jianzi and musical chairs.

There are only three weeks remaining in the semester, and our schedules seem to be pretty full.  CET celebrates American Thanksgiving on Thursday.  Then, on the following Tuesday, we present our Holy Cross ICIP projects.  Three days after that is China Night, in which each class puts on performances to showcase what has been studied these past few months.  And then only one week of classes and final exams stand between China Night and the end of the program.

-Holly

*Check out this song:  “Hometown” by Twenty One Pilots

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